Means for connecting the ends of lifting-ropes together under the hull of a submerged vessel.



A. JOHNSEN. MEANS Eon coNNEclNG THE ENns oF LIETING RoPEsfIoGETHER UNDER THE HULL 0E A SUBNERGED vEssEL` APPLICATION FILED JAN.26. 1917.

A. JOHNSEN. MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE ENDS 0F LIFTING ROPES TOGETHERv UNDER THE HULL 0F A SUBIVIERGED VESSEL.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 26. 1917. Lmom. Patented sept. 25, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET, 2.

Ir m5 I gf m m y INVENTOR Hmduweknaela prirrnn srarns ra'rnnr ernten.

ANDREW JOHNSEN, OF VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA.

MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE ENDS OE LIFTNGr-ROPES TOGETHER UNDER THE HULL,

v OF. ASUBIVIERGED VESSEL.;

Patented Sept, 25, 1917.

Applicatonfrled January 26, 1917. Serial No. 144,723.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, AAnmnnw JoHNsnN, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Vancouver, inthe Province of British Columbia, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Connecting the Ends of Lifting-Ropes Together' Under the Hull of a Submerged Vessel, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a means for coniiecting wire ropes together beneath the hull of a submerged vessel and is designed to enable such to be done in a depth of water where it may be inconvenient or impossible for divers to descend, so that sunken vessels may be lifted therefrom.

The invention comprises a strongly constructed vpair of tongs of such size that when the points are closed together they will encircle the cross section of the vessel to be raised. The ends of the wire rope which it is desired to connect together under the submerged vessel are removably connected to. each opposed end of the tongs, and means are provided that when these ends are brought together, as when the tongs are closed, they automatically lock one to the other, so that the ropes are definitely connected together. To render the tongs available for vpassing further ropes under the hull, the act of connecting the rope ends together releases their attachment to the ends of the tongs.

The tongs are lowered by wire ropes to the submerged wreck from the salvage vessel on the surface, the ropes being so connected to the tongs, that whilebeing lowered the tongs will hang in the open position. Vhen they attain the desired position on the wall of the submerged vessel other wire ropes connected to the tongs are drawn in to close the points of the tongs on one an'- other under the wreck and thereby connect the ropes.

A water service under pressure is delivered to each member of the tongs that a jet may be projected from its end to clear tlieway for it through the silt or gravel on which the submerged vessel may rest.

The invention is particularly described in the following specification, reference being made to the drawings companied, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section on the by which it is ac` line 1-'-1,in Fig. 2 of the tong end shoesy by whichthe lifting wire ropes are passed under the hull of va submerged vessel and connected together, the same being shown as they approach'one another to connect.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the same on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1. V

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 in Fig', 2.

Fig. 4, a cross section on the line 1 -1 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a profile to a smaller scale of the tongs as applied to lift a submerged vessel, the do't and dash lines showing them as lowered to it, and the fu'lllines as closed to encircle its cross section, and connect the lifting lines under it, and

Fig. '6 is a plan to an enlarged, scale of Ithe pivotal connection of the two tong mem ers.

' In these drawings 2 and 3 represent` the ends of two steel wire ropes whichare prefera-bly applied in pairs that they may pass over opposite sides of the lifting ,pontoons The ends of 2 are connected at 4 ina female locking shoe (5, and `the ends of the other ropes 3 are secured at 5 to a male locking member 7 which is adapted to enter the socket 8 of the female shoe 6.

Vertically movable within the socket 8 of the female shoe is a lock bolt 1() adapted to pass vertically downward through an aperture 9 provided in the male member 7, after its insertion in the socket S, and secure it therein. This lock bolt 10 downwardly projects from the middle of a member having. a rack 12 projecting downward ,fromv each' end parallel with the lock bolt. This lock bolt is normally maintained in the upward position, to be clear of the socket, in a manner to be described later.y It is moved downward through the aperture 9 of the male member 7 by geared segments 14 ony a rocking member whichfis pivotally mounted in the sides of the female shoe 6.

The teeth of these segments engage those of the racks 12 of the lockmember and intermediate of the. segments the rocking member has arms 16 which, when the lock bolt 10 is toward the upper limit of its movement project downward in the path of the bevels 11 on each side of the male member 7, as it passes into the. .socket v8, and being` engaged by them the rocking member is rotated and its segmentsle project the lock bolt 10 through the aperture 9 of the member 7.

The tongs 20, 21 by which the self-locking member 6, 7, to which the ends of the cable 2 and 3 are connected, are passed under the hull and pressed together to effect connection of the rope, are shaped to encircle, when closed, the cross sectionI of the vessel to be lifted. They are pivotally connected together at 22, and from each corner 24: Where the tong members 20 and 21 are shaped to pass down the side of the vessel, struts 23 are pin-connected to the tong members and to one another at 25 above the middle line. To each pin 24 or adjacent thereto wire ropes 27 are connected, by which the tongs may be lowered to the submerged vessel, the preponderating weight of the horizontal components of the tong members tending to holdthe tongs open, as shown by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 5.

On the pin-connection 22 of the tong members and on the pin-connection 25 of the struts, sheaves are mounted around which the wire rope 26 is passed by which the pivot 22 may be drawn up toward 25 to close the points of the tongs.

To each corner of the tong members adjacent the pin-connection 24; of the struts a flexible hose pipe 28 delivers water under pressure which is conducted to the point of the tongs, either through a pipe or through the hollow of the tongs where the construction of the tong members allow it.

The male connecting member 7 is carried within a shoe 13 resembling 6, and both shoes 13 andv 6 are removably connected to the opposed ends of the tongs 20, 21 by bolts 15 which are projected from the shoes through apertures in the top and bottom slideways of the tong ends. The inner ends of the opposite bolts'15 of each shoe 6 and 13 are connected together within each shoe by a pair of toggle levers 17 and to the middler pivot of each lever system is connected a sleeve 18 through which slidably pass pipes 30 and 31 which are telescopically connected to the water service pipe of each tong member.

The pipe 30 which serves the male inember 7 extends above that member through its shoe 13 to a short distance from its outer end, so that when the member 7 is inserted in the socket of the female shoe the end of the pipe will engage the end of that shoe and be pushed back.

Similarly, the water jet pipe 31 of the female shoe is produced into contact with the inner shoulder of the socket aperture 8 and has a butting block 33 secured on its end to engage the point of the male member 7 when the same is inserted in the socket 8. Thus, as the male and female coupling ends of the lifting wire rope are connected together, the water jet pipes 3() and 31 are pressed back and adjacent the inner limit of their movement, a collar 32 secured on each will engage the sleeves 18 and move each toggle lever system backward to withdraw the lock bolt 15 and release the shoes 13 and 6 from the ends of the toggle levers 20 and 21.

The butting block 33, when in its normal position at the forward limit of its movement, sustains the lock bolt-10 above vthe socket aperture 8 until as the butting block is pressed back by the male member 7 the locking bolt 10 is free to be moved down and into the aperture.9 of the male member in the manner previously described.

In use, thetongs 20, 21 with the endsv of the lifting ropes 2 and 3 connected to their ends by the shoes 6 and 13, are lowered from the salvage vessel on the surface across the hull of the submerged vessel, the position of which has previously been accurately determined. The tongs being lowered by the lines 27 will hang in the open position, as shown by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 5.r Vhen the tongs are across the hull the water service is delivered through the flexible pipes 28 to the tong members and is projected from the jet pipes 30, 31 and the line 26 is drawn in to close the points of the tongs beneath the hull of the vessel, the jets of water clearing the way for the points of the tongs. As the points close on one another the male member 7 enters the socket 8 of the female member and the lock bolt 10 of the female member is forcibly passed through the aperture 9 of the lmale member 7, see Figs. 1 and 2, to secure the two ends of the lifting ropes 2 and 3 together. Simultaneously the backward movementof the water pipes30, 31 acting through the system oftogglelevers 17 of each tong end shoe 6' and 13 withdraws the bolts 15 and releases the tong ends from the shoes. By slacking the line 26 and lifting on the lines 27 the points of the tongs are withdrawn from the shoes leaving them connecting the lifting ropes 2 and 3 under the hullof the boat, while the tongs may be removed to effect the junction of other ropes at other places along the hull.

. Having now particularly described my invention, I hereby declare that what I claim as new and desire to be protected in by Letters Patent, is;

1. A means for automatically connecting together the ends of wire lifting ropes beneath the hull of a submerged vessel, said means comprising coupling members, instruments for bringing said coupling members together into the coupling position, and

2. A means for automatically connecting 'of tongs, and means together the ends of wire 1lifting ropes beneath the hull of a vessel submerged in a depth of water inaccessible to divers, said means comprising' coupling members, instruments for bringing said coupling members together into the coupling position, and means for releasing said instruments from said couplingmembers upon completing the coupling act.V

3. A means for automatically connecting together-the-.ends of wire ropes, said means comprising` a socket member secured to the endof one rope, a spigot member secured to the end ofy the other, means cooperative with -insertion of the spigot in the socket for securing it therein and members engaging the said socket and spigot members by which the same may be moved together to the coupling position.

4. A means for -automatically connecting together the endsofwire ropes, said means comprisinga socket member secured to the end of one rope, a spigot member secured to the fend of the other, and-a lock member within the socket of one rope to engage and secure the spigot member of the' other, means-'normally holdingsaid lock member retracted, said holding -means adapted for engagement by said spigot member upon insertionto move said-lock'member into lock ing engagement with the spigot member.

o. A means for automatically connecting together the ends of wire ropes, said means comprising a socket member secured to the end of one rope, a normally retracted lock bolt movable across the socket aperture within the socket, a spigot member secured to the other rope end, said spigot apertured to receive the lock bolt of the socket memY ber when inserted, and means whereby insertion of the spigot in the socket projects the lock bolt to secure it therein.

G. A means for automatically connecting together the ends of wire lifting ropes under water, said means comprising a socket member secured to the end of one rope, a spigot member secured to the end of the other rope, means within the socket member for securing the spigot member when the same is inserted, means for removably connecting the spigoted and socketed ends of the ropes to the opposed ends of a pairl for opening and closing the tongs below water.

7. A means for automatically connecting together the ends of wire lifting ropes under water, said means comprising a socket member secured to the end of one rope, a spigot member secured to the end of the other rope, means within the socket member for securing the spigot member when the same is inserted, means for removably connecting the spigoted and socketed ends of the ropes to the opposed ends of a pair of tongs, and means for opening and closing the tongs below water, said means comprising a wire rope connected to each tong member between its pivot and its end, and a wire rope connected to the pivot.

S. A means for automatically connecting together the ends of wire lifting ropes under water, said means comprising a socket member secured to the end of one rope, a spigot member secured to the end of the other rope, means within the socket member for securing the spigot member whenthe same is inserted, means for removably connecting the spigoted-and socketed ends of the ropes to the opposed ends of a pair of tongs, means for opening and closing the tongs below water, said means comprising` a wire rope connected to each tong member between its oivot and its end, and a wire rope connected to the pivot, and means cooperative with the insertion of the spigot within-the socket for disconnecting the spigoted and socketed ends of the lifting ropes from the tong ends.

9. A means for automatically connecting together the ends of wire ropes, said means comprising a socket member secured to the endof one rope, a spigot member secured to the end of the other, and a lock member within the socket of one rope to engage and secure the spigot member of the-other, said lock member moved into locking engagement by insertion of the spigot member, means for removably connecting the spigoted and socketed ends of the lifting ropes to the opposed ends of a pivotally connected pair of tongs having struts pivotally connected to the tong members on each side of their pivot, which struts are pivotally connected together above the joint of the pivot of the tongs, a wire rope connected to each tong member adjacent the connection of the strut members thereto, a wire rope taking around sheaves on the pivot of the tongs and on the pivot connecting the strut members together, and means cooperative with the closing of the spigoted and fauceted ends of the lifting ropes together for releasing said spigoted and fauceted ends from the tong ends.

10. A means for automatically connecting together the ends of wire lifting ropes, said means comprising, a spigot member secured to the end of one rope, a socket member secured to the end of the other rope, said socket member having a lock bolt operative by insertion of the spigot of the other rope whereby when the spigot is inserted it will be locked in the inserted position, a pair of tongs pivotally connected together at one end, a pair of struts pivotally connected together above the pivot of the tongs, the other end of each strut pivotally connected to each tong mem- 'ber intermediate of its ends, a wire rope connected to each tong member adjacent the pivotal connection of the strut thereto, so

that When the tongs are suspended by these ropes the tongs will hang open, a wire rope passing around-sheaves on the tong pivot and sheaves on the connecting pivot of the struts to one another whereby when suspended on this rope the'points of the tongs will be closed on one another, and means for removably connecting the spigoted end of one lifting rope and the socket end of the other lifting rope respectively to the opposed ends of the tongs, and means whereby when the tongs are moved into connecting engagement the spigoted and socketed ends of the lifting ropes Will be released from their connection to the tong ends.

l1. A means for automatically connecting together the ends of Wire lifting ropes under Water, said means comprising a socket member secured to the end of one rope, a spigot member secured to the end of the other rope, means Within the socket member for securing the spigot member When the same is inserted, means for removably connecting the spigoted land socketed ends of the ropes to the opposedends of a pair of tongs, means for opening and closing the tongs below Water, and a Water service iiexibly connected to each member of the tongs and conducted to jet pipes adjacent the opposed ends of the tongs. y c

l2. A means for automatically connecting together the ends of Wire lifting ropes under Water, said means comprising automatically looking male and female coupling members secured to the respective ends of the ropes, applying instruments for carrying said coupling members beneath the vessel into coupling engagement, means for locking said coupling members to said applying members and means operated by the coupling together of said coupling members for releasing said connecting means whereby said applying members may be Withdrawn from said coupling members. y

13. The combination With the male and female coupling members each including shoes7 of applying instruments engaging said shoes, toggle latches for connecting said applying instruments to said shoes and releasing members adapted to be operated during the coupling act` for breaking the toggles to Withdraw the toggle latches whereby said applying members may be disconnected from said shoes. 1

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

' ANDREW JOHNSEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the` Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

